Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3788, Charles French, Continental (Mass) Privateer

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Mass) Privateer
French, Charles
R. 3788
CONTENTS

State of Vermont Windham County ss } On this first day of February
A.D. 1837 personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the Probate Court of Hartford District, now sitting - Charles French a resident of the County of Windham and State of Vermont, aged Seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as here in stated. That he enlisted into the American Legion commanded by Col Armand, as a Corporal, in the month of February 1780, for and during the Revolutionary war. He enlisted under Capt Sharar at Springfield in the State of Massachusetts - The spring after he was marched into New Jersey and there he joined his Corps, the American Legion. He stayed at Newburgh and near West Point the following summer and winter as near as he can remember - Early in the spring of 1781 we were marched off towards Maryland; and our march was continued into Virginia, before we made any halt of any time. Sometime in April 1781 a draft was made, of Sharpshooters, out of our Corps, and I was drafted as one - This draft was made from other troops also - From Virginia this Corps of Sharpshooters were marched towards the upper part of North Carolina. Sometime in March, he thinks, he was in the battle of Guilford Court House under Genl Greene. - after the battle he remained under the command of Genl Greene. He stayed in Maryland and some part of Virginia and our Corps did not after wards join the main Army, that I recollect. The last of July 1781 a reconnoitering party to which I was attached were surprised by Tories, and taken; near the upper part of South Carolina, our party consisted of a Lieutenant and twenty men, - Eleven were taken prisoners and he was of

the number, the Lieut and remainder escaped. They were taken to Charlestown as prisoners and put on board of a ship there, and stayed about two months. From there we were taken with other prisoners to New York, and put on board of a Prison Ship at that place where we were kept about two months or more. We were then put into prison on shore, and he was kept a prisoner until the March after Xmas 1782 - about the middle of winter he was taken out with one other prisoner of the name of Irwin to assist in the Commissary Department. Irwin was a Continental Soldier and had been taken in New Jersey. A Citizen of Long Island was in the practice of bringing produce to the Commissary that winter. We had liberty about the City and we met this man on Long Island whose name was Craig - We persuaded him to assist us in getting away - a few days after we met Craig, by appointment, at Westboro who took us to his home at Huntington on Long Island. The day after this he carried us up towards Montauk Point, where he had a brother living, who was also a liberty man, and this brother carried us over and landed us next day at Nardson, we started the night preceding - we reported ourselves to the Commandant of the Fort which was at that time garrisoned by militia. The Commandant's name is forgotten but I think it was Syman. We were there furnished with provisions and some money and ordered to go to Worcester and report ourselves to Col. Bigelow, we accordingly went and reported ourselves. Col. Bigelow was not present but Capt Williams told us to go to Boston and report ourselves to Genl Heath at Boston, and he got us a passage in a Coaggon. We arrived at Boston and reported ourselves to Genl Heath and told him our circumstances sometime in April 1782. The General told us we might either stay, or go to our places of abode (of which he made a memorandum) and report

ourselves again by the middle of May following; and furnished us with provisions and some money for that purpose. I remain and myself re-separated, and he returned home to Maine by water. I returned to Worcester and the fifteenth or sixteenth of May following reported myself again to Genl Heath. He told me that there would probably be peace and if any thing more was wanted of me he would let me know it, as he knew where I lived. He told me in the fall afterwards that I need not go back as there would be peace. He was born at Hannover in Germany in the month of October 1763 and was taken prisoner on his passage to this Country with other Troops, and brought into Boston, by an American Privateer. He declared himself for the United States, and took the Oath of Allegiance. He went out privatizing two voyages under Capt Fisk; the first time they took a large English Ship bound to New York, in the battle we lost a quarter of our Crew. The ship was loaded with arms, and provisions for the enemies hospital. We brought the prize into Boston, she carried twelve brass guns, we got only eleven of them - The crew and passengers consisted of fifty two men. The second Cruise was under Capt Harrington of Marblehead or Salem. In this cruise we took a British Merchant Ship on the Banks and bro't her into Boston, she was loaded with sugar, Rum &c &c - This ended his Revolutionary Service - He was out during the last war, as a soldier, two years and six months - He was at the taking of Fort George - Braver than fight, when Col Doyler was taken his men, myself and thirteen or fourteen others escaped and got back to the Fort - He was at Forty mile Creek, fight, at Little York - at Eleven mile Creek - at Sandy Creek - was a Sargeant in Capt Brown's Company, Col Brown's Regt.

Col. Mularay was in command of the Regt. when he was discharged - which was the 23 d Reg. of Infantry. He does not know of any witness living by whom he can prove his Revolutionary Service aforesaid. He was young, and in, to him , a strange country at the commencement of his service, and from that reason has not the same chance of proving his service aforesaid, as other Americans might under similar circumstances -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State -
Charles French
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Col. Billings Register
Mr. Russell Street - a clergyman residing in Woodstock and Joseph B. Davenport residing in Barnard hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Charles French who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is respected and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid -
Russell Street Jos. B. Davenport
Col. Billings Register.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Russell Street who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Woodstock and that Joseph B. Davenport who has also signed the same, is a resident in Barnard and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Col. Billings Register of the Court of Probate of the District of Hartford do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Charles French for a Pension
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this first day of February A. D. 1837.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
3788
P. O.
Charles French
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contra
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Barnard, Vermont
Dec. 2 nd 1837
Sir,
I wish that you would communicate to me after an examination of the enclosed -
I sincerely believe it to be a meritorious case, and I may be permitted to add, that such is the universal opinion here;
I am respectfully Yrs
Geo. E. Wales
Hon J. L. Edwards
Comm ee of Pension

Barnard Col o Sept 8
Free
Hon. Horace Everett Member of Congress Washington City
Hon. H. Everett

Charles French of Barnard in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont testifies and says that he does not know but that he has made a mistake in the year of his enlistment into Armand's Corps, and that it may have been 1779 - instead of 1780 -
The reason why he did not apply for a pension under the act of 1818 was that he was then the owner of a small Estate in said Barnard which he has since sold to Millard Garyl, and for which he owes one One hundred & Sixty dollars said Garyl has since failed and I am not able to collect the same -
He did apply for a pension in the summer of 1832 - and his papers were forwarded to the Pension office but which he has never heard from, and which is the reason of the present application -
He never received any pay after his escape from imprisonment - And since that time he has resided at Rutland in the County of Worcester Commonwealth of Massachusetts up to the year 1784 with William Goldwell Esq Sheriff of said Worcester County - From there I removed to Stockbridge in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont and have resided in said Stockbridge, and Barnard, an adjoining Town, ever since -
Charles French
State of Vermont Windsor County ss. Barnard May 2 nd 1837 Then Charles French personally appearing made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed

contains the truth and nothing but the truth - and I certify that he is a credible witness -
George E. Wales Justice of Peace
I certify that the above named George Wales is a justice of the Peace within and of the County of Franklin, Vermont.
H. E. Smith

Barnard Sept 6.
Sir, the  enclosed affidavit I wish to certify to my being a magistrate and forward to Mr Edwards -
Mr French ought to have his pension
I most sincerely believe
I am respectfully Yrs
Geo. E. Wray
Hon. N. Lovett.

apl 29 '40
FREE
Hon James L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Charles Smith
Washington D.C.

Woodstock Vt. April 23 d 1840
Sir
I am informed that some time in the year 1832 or 3, Charles French of Barnard in the County of Windham + State of Vermont (by Geo S Wales Esquire) sent to the Pension Office his claim for a pension, under the act of 7 th June 1832; and whether or not, any action on the same has ever been had, I am not informed.
I wish therefore to inquire whether or not, such papers have been received, and if received, what the objections are to granting the pension to Mr French.
Respectfully yours
Walter Palmer
Hon. J. L. Edwards Commr of Pensions

Ch. French Jt
act 1832

Washington 14. Sept 1897
Sir
I enclose the affidavit of Charles French relating to his application for a pension respectfully -
H. Evans
J. L. Edmunds Esq Secy. of Pension.